CMU Off-Campus Programs Make A Difference Day

What is Make A Difference Day?

Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. Millions have participated. In 2007, 3 million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns. National Make A Difference Day Information can be found at http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html.

Why did we decide to participate?

Reading is fundamental. As an institution of higher learning and known as the “teacher college” of Michigan, the committee felt that this would be an outstanding project for main campus as well as our learning centers across the nation. Reading and literacy are fundamental to the positive growth of our country. Introducing as many children as possible to the world of reading through fun and entertaining activities helps accomplish this goal. Reading is a life-long activity. Reading to a child, as well as the child learning to read, is what makes this project unique.

CMU’s event activities include: reading and writing; storytellers; face painting; clowns, musicians and other entertainers; Clifford the Big Red Dog; simple arts and crafts based on story book characters; and refreshments. We also invite community partners, like public safety and rescue squads for children fingerprinting and fire and tornado safety tips. In addition, and in accordance with national Make a Difference Day mission, all individuals (about 250) involved with the event are volunteers.

What will be the long-term impact?

As an annual event, CMU’s Make a Difference Day project will have a long term impact on children because in addition to showing children that reading can be fun, entertaining and educational – through reading children can go to new places, be introduced to new friends and explore new worlds only imagined.